Tag Archives: water heater installation

Tankless water heaters have been called the modern way to have hot water, and saves energy while also cutting your utility bill. These water heaters have a relatively simple design that allows you to have hot water without storing huge amounts of water in a tank. A standard water heater will store and heat 40 gallons of hot water. In the simplest terms possible, feed water runs through tubing that gets heated by either electrical elements or gas burners. It comes in cold and goes out hot, so that as soon as you turn on a hot water faucet, you get instant hot water.

So far so good, right? Cold water in, hot water out, no bulky storage tank and very energy efficient. But before we go into the whys and wherefores of tankless water heaters, how about a bit of history first.

There is nothing worse than not having enough hot water to meet your family’s needs, especially when you are constantly running out of it while in the shower. When the time comes for a new water heater installation, it pays to know what different types are available. You will want to choose the one that will be best for your home and your family’s lifestyle.

If your current water heater is still working properly, you may want to consider upgrading even if it does not yet need replaced. A newer version of your existing type of heater can provide you with more hot water and save you money on your utility bills. However, changing to a different type of water heater altogether may save you even more every month.

High-Efficiency Storage Water Heaters

Storage water heaters can be fueled by electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, or propane. Depending upon the size of the tank, it may hold between 20 to 80 gallons of water. The water is heated continually while sitting in the tank even when you are not using hot water. The upfront cost for this type of water heater installation is usually less than other varieties. You will usually see at least a 7 percent decrease in your energy costs.

In many parts of the country, water heaters are commonly placed in the attic. This is manageable until you suspect your water heater has a leak, and accessing it to complete water heater repair is challenging to you and a professional plumber.

Why the Attic?

Homes built on pad foundations (no basement or crawl space) often have attic water heaters. While cheap to install, their attic location makes water heater repair very difficult. Garages are not good locations for gas-fired water heaters specifically, because of the proximity of flammable liquids.